Season’s Readings: 10 New Holiday Romances

A collage of the covers included in this article

The holiday season is almost upon us! We’re getting ready to deck the halls, brew mulled wine, and spend long nights reading by the fire. If you’re looking for a holiday romance to curl up with, we have you covered. As an early holiday gift, here’s a list of ten adult and YA holiday romances that are packed with celebrations, snow, and happily ever afters.

The Lights on Knockbridge Lane by Roan Parrish

Christmas comes to Garnet Run in the third book of Roan Parrish’s small town series. When Adam Mills’ 8-year-old daughter Gus breaks into Wes Mobrary’s home, it sets off a chain of events that changes both men’s lives forever. Wes, charmed by Gus and drawn to Adam, soon becomes a fixture in their lives, even helping set up their holiday lights. But when the home’s holiday display goes viral, being scrutinized in the public eye becomes too much for Wes and threatens the bond he’s created with Adam.

Amor Actually by Adriana Herrera, Alexis Daria, Diana Muñoz Stewart, Mia Sosa, Priscilla Oliveras, Sabrina Sol, Zoey Castile

Celebrate Nochebuena with this anthology of nine short stories written by seven beloved Latinx romance authors. From Zoey Castile’s tale of a snowed-in romance writer, to Adriana Herrera’s “Make the Yuletide Gay” where a pop star’s heart belongs to her manager, to Mia Sosa’s workplace romance between coworkers who have to dress as Santa and an Elf, there’s truly something for everyone in this collection. Sure to capture both your heart and the magic of New York City during the holidays, Amor Actually is available in early December.

Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Suzanne Enoch, Amelia Grey, Anna Bennett

Readers looking for historical holiday romances will want this anthology at the top of their list. Suzanne Enoch’s “Great Scot” offers two characters who feel love is out of reach a chance to find happiness together when a spinster falls for a widower. In Amelia Grey’s “Christmas at Dewberry Hollow,” an innkeeper’s daughter and the grandson of a duke find themselves working together to find an engraving from the duke’s past. In Anna Bennett’s “My Mistletoe Beau,” a woman breaking into an earl’s home to steal back a watch agrees to pretend they’re courting for the benefit of his grandmother.

Love and Latkes by Stacey Agdern

The third book in Stacey Agdern’s Friendships and Festivals series finds web designer Batya Averman reluctantly returning to her hometown to work on a latke fry-off competition. Batya is determined to prove that she isn’t the same embarrassed girl who left town years ago, especially when she realizes that one of the competitors is Abe Neumann, her high school crush. Abe hopes to use the winnings to finally open the Jewish deli he’s dreamed of, but the chance to reconnect with Batya feels like a grand prize all its own.

The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo

Tif Marcelo​​ makes her YA debut with this tale of two teens working together at a local inn. High school senior Lila is looking forward to a cheery winter break and using her time off from school to work a few extra hours at the Bookworm Inn. Unfortunately, her new coworker Teddy, a college freshman and the boss’ nephew, seems determined to ruin her good mood every time they cross paths. When the two accidentally swap phones, they start to realize they might have more in common than they originally thought.

Duke, Actually by Jenny Holiday

What do you get when you mix an infamous rake with a professor who has given up on love? A perfect friendship, of course. Maximillian von Hansburg, heir to the Duke of Aquilla, is in New York to meet the woman his parents want him to marry. Instead, he finds himself preferring to spend time with Dani Martinez, who’s as relationship adverse as he is. What starts as an exciting new friendship, soon turns into a desire for more that neither of them can deny.

A Holly Jolly Diwali by Sonya Lalli

Niki Randhawa begins to reevaluate what she wants from her life after she’s laid off from her job as an analyst. Sticking to the safe and practical hasn’t paid off, but maybe leaning into what brings her joy will. When she travels to India for a friend’s wedding, Niki begins to reconnect with her roots, her creativity, and finds herself drawn to London musician Sameer Mukherji. But when her old life comes calling, will she return to it or take a risk and follow her heart?

Just for the Holidays… by Adriana Herrera

It simply wouldn’t be a holiday romance list without at least one couple being snowed in! Casting director Perla Sambrano volunteers to travel to the Hamptons to convince actor Gael Montez to sign on as the lead in a show being produced by Sambrano Studios. Perla hasn’t seen Gael since they broke up six years ago, but she’s determined to do her job and not let any emotions get in the way. Her resolve is tested when a snowstorm strands her at his mansion, and it becomes impossible to deny the chemistry that still exists between them.

No Ordinary Christmas by Belle Calhoune

Belle Calhoune kicks off the Mistletoe, Maine series with a second chance romance between a librarian and a movie star. Dante West returns to the small New England town of Mistletoe for an upcoming movie—hoping that the filming will give a boost to local businesses and give him a chance to make things right with Lucy Marshall, who was once his best friend. Lucy’s heart broke when Dante left years ago without so much as a goodbye, but when he offers a much-needed donation to her library in exchange for being able to film there, Lucy finds she can’t refuse.

Blame It on the Mistletoe by Beth Garrod

YA readers who look forward to watching The Holiday every year will find a lot to enjoy in Beth Garrod’s latest. In the race to attract 15,000 new followers for a competition, social media influencer Elle decides to swap lives with a British follower for the holidays. Holly volunteers to trade lives—needing to get away from her ex and the news that her mom is selling their home. Once in England, Elle starts to fall for Holly’s neighbor and across the sea in America, Holly finds herself charmed by Elle’s twin brother.

Kelly Gallucci

Kelly Gallucci is the Executive Editor of We Are Bookish, where she oversees the editorial content, offers book recommendations, and interviews authors and NetGalley members. When she's not working, Kelly can be found color coordinating her bookshelves, eating Chipotle, and watching way too many baking shows.

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